Destiny: the inevitable or necessary fate to which a particular person or thing is ‘destined’
Destined: determined beforehand, preordained; assigned for a specific end, use, or purpose
In one of my circles of relationships, I’ve heard this word quite a bit over the past year. Destiny is seen as a good thing, something to be desired. People want to ‘live out their destiny’. The belief is that God has a specific plan for each person, a fulfillment of who He created them to be. Being largely a ‘fatalistic’ person (believing that all events are predetermined and inevitable), I can accept this. Of course I want to believe that God had something very specific in mind when He ‘formed me in my mother’s womb’. It gives me a sense of purpose. I’m not randomly on this planet for no reason at all!
But what is my ‘destiny’? How do I know if I’m ‘living it’? I know there are people who would have big issues with the whole idea of ‘destiny’. What do you mean things are ‘pre-determined’ for me? Don’t I have freedom of choice? I have absolutely no idea how the two work together. There’s evidence of both in the Bible. Joseph said it was God’s plan for him to go to Egypt so he would be able to save his family and many others. Mordecai told Esther perhaps she was born for such a time as this so that she could appeal to the king on behalf of her people. And yet Saul was chosen by God to be king, but he didn’t follow Him and lost the kingship because of it.
What was I born to be? What was I born to do? There are moments when I feel as if the curtain has been pulled back and things come into focus, and I get a sense of being created for a specific purpose, whether its in relation to a person or situation. But then the curtain drops and I’m just not so sure anymore. But there’s a part deep down inside of me that grabs hold of those moments of clarity and believes that although things may not appear to be the fulfillment of any destiny right now, what I’ve experienced in those moments of clarity will come to pass.
“Now we see things imperfectly as in a poor mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God knows me now.” (1 Corinthians 13:12)
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CWG:
I don’t think we’re talking about the same thing here. What I’m pondering right now is not God’s will, but the story He has in mind for my life. I’m thinking about Joseph. Was it ‘God’s will’ that his brothers sell him into slavery and lie to their father about it? I don’t think so, as what those brothers did was sin. But God had a destiny for Joseph. He gave Joseph dreams that he would be given great authority. Joseph didn’t know what form those dreams would take and I’m sure he had many doubts as he sat all those years in prison. But Joseph’s circumstances did not stop the plan that God had. God chose Joseph for a specific purpose, and being God, He was able to ensure that purpose was fulfilled.
What has God chosen me for? He chose me from the beginning (Ephesians 1:11). What has He ‘spoken’ about me that will come to pass? How will the story of my life unfold? I like to dream big dreams. I want God to use me in a big way for the purposes of His kingdom. What are the ‘dreams’ He has given me that will come to pass? Those are the things I’m wondering about.